Gainsborough helps extra Hertfordshire care homes to rapidly recommission with infection controlling baths

Gainsborough Specialist Bathrooms has rapidly installed six specialist baths so vital Hertfordshire County Council care homes could reopen during the Covid-19 crisis.

When fully operational, the Fairways care home in Watford and Nevetts in Buntingford will provide care for 40 residents supported by 45 healthcare professionals. Previously closed, the facilities have been recommissioned to support patients undergoing early discharge from hospital due to the extra capacity required by NHS.

These homes provide space for those requiring extra recovery time or awaiting community care services to be reinstated. The re-opening involved rapid refitting and modernisation of facilities including the installation of specialist power-assisted manufactured by Gainsborough.

Despite lockdown challenges and a demanding schedule, this established accessible bath supplier was able to install and commission a suite of Gentona’s with variable height and bather transfer seats. These advanced bathing solutions were deemed critical by the operators, Hertfordshire County Council, for maximum resident comfort, safety and hygiene.

Cllr Richard Roberts Hertfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Care & Health commented:

“The health and safety of our most vulnerable residents is a top priority for us at Hertfordshire County Council. We want to ensure our residents have access to the best possible care when leaving hospital so they can make a full recovery. Through collaborative working with Mace, we were able to get Gainsborough Specialist Bathrooms to project manage the bathroom installations across both homes. The Gainsborough team rapidly installed power-assisted, antimicrobial baths for assured resident wellbeing and infection control. The team has performed admirably under time and resource pressures and has been integral to the success of these homes reopening.”

The Gentona is one of the most advanced bathing solutions from the Gainsborough Healthcare Group – the parent organisation of Gainsborough Specialist Bathrooms. Designed and manufactured in Europe’s largest specialist bath factory, the UK-built Gentona delivers ergonomic safety for disabled bathers and carers so transfer risks are reduced in the bathroom.

The Gentona is the only bath in the world to encompass BioCote antimicrobial technology which provides 99.9% 24/7 protection against an array of harmful microbes including Influenza H1N1, E.coli, Salmonella and antibiotic-resistant MRSA. Recent laboratory tests have proven BioCote demonstrates antiviral efficacy against a member of the Coronavirus family – possibly paving the way to proven effectiveness against Covid-19. This world-class level of Superbug protection will provide added safety and peace of mind to the residents and staff at Fairway and Nevetts.

Peter Eckhardt, CEO, Gainsborough Healthcare Group, concludes:

“We were delighted to be given the opportunity to work on such a vital project. Gainsborough fully appreciates the extreme pressures on Hertfordshire NHS and care services hence we rapidly mobilised our specialists to fast track bathing solutions for world-class safety, dignity and hygiene.”